Review: Homo Machina review – An intriguing puzzle game with some great ideas

There’s something really rather special about Homo Machina. It’s a game about the goings on inside of a human body. Albeit the body here is represented as a sort of steam-powered machine controlled by an intriguing cast of characters.

It’s not perfect, but when it gets things right, it’s a charming and engaging exploration of what it means to be human, to function, and to fall in love.

Body talk

The game is set around a series of compartments in the body. There’s the eyes, the stomach, the heart, the lungs, and more. Each of these is essentially a level, and a puzzle that you need to try and solve.

Things are simple to begin with. You tap a few machines to get them working, and then it’s on to the next challenge.

The controls change from level to level, but they involve tapping, swiping, and holding a finger on the screen. You’re pulling levers, pressing buttons, and pushing on screens. The game doesn’t hold your hand, so you’re left to figure out what to do at every step.